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Gang members' dispute over $5 led to woman's shooting death: PCSO

MULBERRY, Fla. – A dispute between two rival gang members over a $5 drug deal led to one of the men accidentally shooting and killing his girlfriend, according to new documents released by the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Affidavits show Joshua Clark, aka “Chop,” gave Jose Coronado, aka “Tweety,” money for synthetic marijuana on Wednesday at the Mulberry home of Coronado’s girlfriend, Mary Dino.

According to deputies, Clark confronted Coronado in the driveway early Thursday and demanded either the drugs or his $5 back.

Mugshots of Jose Coronado and Joshua Clark courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Documents show that Coronado, who was in his car with Dino at the time, pointed a gun at Clark. Dino then grabbed Coronado and told him to stop, at which point the gun went off and shot Dino in the chest.

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Coronado and Clark then fired several shots at each other, but neither was hit, officials said.

Grady Judd's press conference about the shooting of Mulberry

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd held a news conference Thursday morning about the shooting of a woman during an apparent shooting in Mulberry.

The report states that a few minutes later, Coronado dropped Dino off in the back of a pickup truck in front of another home and then yelled at people inside to call 911. Dino, 28, later died in hospital.

A witness's vehicle description helped officers track Coronado near Fort Meade, which led to a pursuit. They performed a PIT maneuver and arrested him, PCSO said.

When questioned by officers, Coronado denied having any weapons and claimed that Clark shot Dino.

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The sheriff's office said Clark admitted to shooting Coronado, then drove to a friend's house and hid the gun in the attic because he was a convicted felon.

At a news conference Thursday, Sheriff Grady Judd said both suspects were known meth dealers and part of what he called a “crazy colony.”

The following charges are being filed against 34-year-old Coronado:

  • homicide
  • Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
  • Tampering with physical evidence
  • Discharging a firearm in a residential area
  • Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
  • Possession of ammunition by a convicted felon

The following charges are being filed against Clark, 35:

  • Tampering with physical evidence
  • Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
  • Possession of ammunition by a convicted felon
  • Discharging a firearm in a residential area

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